Potent thymopentin analogs

ABSTRACT

Immunoregulating peptides are disclosed which are more potent than thymopentin or splenin and are useful for their effects on the immune system, especially the treatment of thymic deficiencies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to new immunomodulatory peptides andparticularly to analogs of the peptide thymopentin which have greatlyincreased potency.

2. Description of the Art

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,190,646 and 4,261,886 disclose various pentapeptideshaving activity similar to the long chain polypeptide known asthymopoietin, which is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,002,740 and4,077,949. Thymopoietin selectively stimulates the differentiation of Tcells. The pentapeptide disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,190,646 whichhas the sequence H-ARG-LYS-ASP-VAL-THY-OH, is known as the thymopoietinpentapeptide or "thymopentin". The biological activity of certain ofthese peptides is described in an article by M. E. Weksler, et al., J.Exp. Med. 148: 996-1006 (1978). The above U.S. patents and article areincorporated herein by reference. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,361,673 and 4,420,424also disclose various peptides asserted to have activity similar tothymopoietin. A peptide of similar structure isolated from bovine spleenand termed "splenin" is described in Audhya, et al., Biochemistry, 20,6195-6200 (1981) and Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. (USA), 81, 2847-2849 (May1984). This material stimulates induction of both T cells and B cells.

Certain enzyme-resistant immunomodulatory peptides are disclosed in ourcopending application Ser. No. 553,281, filed Nov. 18, 1983, which isincorporated herein by reference.

Thymopentin has been shown to exert a modulatory effect on the immunesystem of animals and humans and is thus useful for treatment ofdiseases involving defects in immune function, whether such defects aremanifested as deficiencies or excesses of immune function. See forexample Audhya, T. and Goldstein, G., Int. J. Pept. Protein Res., 22,568-572 (1983); Aiuti, et al., Lancet 1:551-555 (1983); and Levinsky, etal., in "Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases", Wedgewood, Rosen, and Paul,eds, 19, 273-276 (1983). Reference is made to these articles and to theabove-described patents and article for a discussion of other backgroundmaterial and the biological processes involved in the present invention.

The present invention provides peptides and peptide compositions whichare surprisingly more potent than thymopentin or splenin and thus offersignificant advantages in the treatment of immune defects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to novel peptides having the followingformula:

    R--V--W--X--Y--Z--R.sup.1                                  (I)

or a pharmaceutically-acceptable acid- or base-addition salt thereof,wherein:

R is H, loweralkyl, formyl, or loweralkanoyl;

V is ARG or D-ARG;

W is LYS, D-LYS, PRO, dehydro PRO, or AIB;

X is ASP, D-ASP, GLU or D-GLU;

Y is VAL, LYS, LEU, ILE, GLU, ALA, GLN, D-VAL, D-LYS, D-LEU, D-ILE,D-GLU, D-ALA, and D-GLN;

Z is PHE, HIS, TRP, D-PHE, D-HIS, or D-TRP;

R¹ is OH or NR² R³ ; and

R² and R³ are each independently selected from H and loweralkyl;

provided that when W is LYS, X is D-ASP, GLUE, or D-GLU, and Y is VAL, Zis other than PHE.

It has been surprisingly found that the subject peptides possessthymopentin-like or splenin-like activity at a potency approximately tentimes that of thymopentin or splenin itself.

The subject peptides wherein W is PRO, dehydro PRO, or AIB also possesssurprising resistance to degradation by enzymes, as disclosed in theabove referenced patent application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As indicated above, this invention is concerned with new peptides havingthymopoietin-like activity, therapeutic compositions containing thesepeptides, and methods for use thereof.

In its broadest scope, the present invention provides peptides havingthe following formula:

    R--V--W--X--Y--Z--R.sup.1                                  (I)

or a pharmaceutically acceptable acid- or base-addition salt thereof,wherein R, V, W, X, Y, Z, and R¹ are as defined above. Preferredpeptides of the present invention are those of Formula (I) wherein Z isPHE, D-PHE, HIS, or D-HIS, and particularly wherein W is also PRO. Morepreferred peptides are those of Formula I wherein R is hydrogen, orloweralkanoyl, V is ARG, X is ASP, and Z is PHE or HIS, and moreparticularly wherein W is also PRO. Still more preferred peptides areH-ARG-LYS-ASP-VAL-PHE-OH, H-ARG-LYS-ASP-VAL-HIS-OH,H-ARG-PRO-ASP-VAL-PHE-OH, H-ARG-PRO-ASP-VAL-HIS-OH,H-ARG-LYS-ASP-VAL-TRP-OH, α-acetyl-ARG-PRO-ASP-VAL-PHE-NH₂, andloweralkanoyl-ARG-PRO-ASP-VAL-PHE-OH.

As used herein, the term "loweralkyl" includes branched andstraight-chain saturated hydrocarbons having from one to six carbonatoms, such as methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, pentyl, hexyl, and thelike, while the term "loweralkanoyl" means loweralkyl ##STR1##

As acids which are able to form salts with these peptides there may bementioned inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid,perchloric acid, nitric acid, thiocyanic acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoricacid, and the like, and organic acids such as formic acid, acetic acid,propionic acid, glycolic acid, lactic acid, pyruvic acid, oxalic acid,malonic acid, succinic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, anthranilicacid, cinnamic acid, naphthalenesulfonic acid, sulfanilic acid, or thelike.

As bases which are able to form salts with these peptides, there may bementioned inorganic bases such as sodium hydroxide, ammonium hydroxide,potassium hydroxide, and the like, and organic bases such as mono-, di-,and tri-alkyl and aryl amines (e.g., triethylamine, diisopropylamine,methylamine, dimethylamine, and the like) and optionally substitutedethanolamines (e.g., ethanolamine, diethanolamine, and the like).

Throughout this disclosure, the amino acid components of the peptidesand certain materials used in their preparation are identified byabbreviations for convenience. These abbreviations are as follows:

    ______________________________________    Amino Acid           Abbreviation    ______________________________________    L-alanine            ALA    D-alanine            D-ALA    L-arginine           ARG    D-arginine           D-ARG    L-aspartic acid      ASP    D-aspartic acid      D-ASP    L-glutamic acid      GLU    D-glutamic acid      D-GLU    L-glutamine          GLN    D-glutamine          D-GLN    L-histidine          HIS    D-histidine          D-HIS    L-isoleucine         ILE    D-isoleucine         D-ILE    L-leucine            LEU    D-leucine            D-LEU    L-lysine             LYS    D-lysine             D-LYS    α-methylalanine                         AIB    L-phenylalanine      PHE    D-phenylalanine      D-PHE    L-proline            PRO    L-tryptophan         TRP    D-tryptophan         D-TRP    L-valine             VAL    D-valine             D-VAL    ______________________________________

The peptides of the invention may generally be prepared following knowntechniques. Conveniently, the peptides may be prepared following thesolid-phase synthetic technique initially described by Merrifield inJACS, 85, 2149-2154 (1963). Such methods are also disclosed in certainof the prior art patents referred to above. Other techniques may befound, for example, in M. Bodanszky, et al., Peptide Synthesis, JohnWiley & Sons, second edition, 1976, as well as in other reference worksknown to those skilled in the art. Appropriate protective groups usablein such syntheses and their abbreviations will be found in the abovetext, as well as in J. F. W. McOmie, Protective Groups in OrganicChemistry, Plenum Press, New York, 1973. Both of these books areincorporated herein by a reference. The common protective groups usedherein are t-butyloxycarbonyl (BOC), benzyl (BZL), t-amyloxycarbonyl(AOC), tosyl (TOS), o-bromo-phenylmethoxycarbonyl (BrZ),2-6-dichlorobenzyl (BZLCl₂), and phenylmethoxycarbonyl (Z or CBZ).

The peptides of this invention wherein X is ASP or D-ASP have been foundto exhibit biological activity similar to thymopoietin, as disclosed inthe above-referenced United States patents and articles. This biologicalactivity is evidenced by an assay measuring induction of cyclic-GMPproduction in a human T-cell line in comparison with thymopoietin. Theinduction of c-GMP production by a test peptide in this assay indicatesthe ability of the test peptide to bind to the thymopoietin receptorsite on the cell and induce thymopoietin-like biological activity. Ascan be seen from the results presented below, the subject peptides areup to about ten times more potent than thymopentin, thus offering asignificant advantage. Because of the expense of preparing peptides andthe rapid degradation of peptides often observed in living systems,peptides such as those herein which have increased potency are greatlyprized.

The biological activity of the subject peptides wherein X is ASP orD-ASP is also indicated by the binding of these peptides to the cellmembrane receptor for the active site of thymopoietin.

The peptides of this invention wherein X is GLU or D-GLU exhibitbiological activity similar to splenin and cause the differentiation ofboth Thy-1⁻ cells to Thy-1⁺ T cells and Lyb-2⁻ cells to Lyb-2⁺ B cellsas shown in the assay of Scheid, et al., J. Exp. Med. 147: 1727-1743(1978).

Prior to the making of the present invention, it was completelyunexpected that one would be able to prepare peptides having suchincreased potency compared to thymopentin by replacing the amino acidtyrosine in the five-position by phenyalanine, histidine, or tryptophan.The references described above generally indicate the necessity of atyrosine or tyrosine-like amino acid residue in position five. There wascertainly no suggestion in the art that one could achieve suchgreatly-increased potency by use of the subject peptides.

Because of the immunomodulatory characteristics of the subject peptides,they are therapeutically useful in the treatment of humans and animals,since they have the capability for inducing the differentiation oflymphopoietic stem cells in the haemopoietic tissues into thymus-derivedcells (T cells) which are capable of involvement in the immune responseof the body. As a result, the subject peptides are considered to havemultiple therapeutic uses.

Primarily, since the compounds have the capability of carrying outcertain of the indicated functions of the thymus, they have applicationin various thymic function and immunity areas. One such application isin the treatment of DiGeorge Syndrome, a condition in which there iscongenital absence of the thymus. Administration of one of the subjectpeptides to a sufferer from DiGeorge Syndrome will assist in overcomingthis deficiency. Those of skill in the immunological art can readilydetermine the appropriate route for administration (preferablyparenterally) and can determine the effective amount of one of thesubject peptides for treatment of DiGeorge Syndrome. Because the subjectpeptides are more potent than thymopentin, they are more therapeuticallyuseful than prior art peptides.

Additionally, the subject peptides are considered useful in assistingthe collective immunity of the body, in that they will increase orassist in therapeutic stimulation of cellular immunity and thereby areuseful in the treatment of diseases involving chronic infection, such asfungal or mycoplasma infections, tuberculosis, leprosy, acute andchronic l and viral infections and the like.

The subject compounds are generally considered to be useful in any areain which cellular immunity is an issue and particularly where there aredeficiencies in immunity such as in the DiGeorge syndrome mentionedabove. Thus, where there is an excess of antibody production due tounbalanced T cells and B cells, the subject peptides can correct thiscondition by stimulating T cell production. Thus, they are expected tobe of therapeutic use in certain autoimmune diseases in which damagingantibodies are produced, such as systemic lupus erythematosis,rheumatoid arthritis, or the like.

The subject peptides wherein X is GLU or D-GLU are also useful to inducethe differentiation of precursor B cells into mature B cells capable ofproducing antibody. They are thus useful in treatment of such conditionsas X-linked infantile hypogammaglobulinemia, where a defect in suchdifferentiation mechanism is present.

In their broadest application, the subject compounds are useful forregulating the immune system of a subject, human or animal, in need ofsuch regulation. As used herein, the term "regulate" means that thesubject compounds cause the immune system to return from an abnormal,diseased state to a normal, balanced state. While this regulation maywell find great application in the correction of immunologicaldeficiencies (e.g., DiGeorge syndrome), it is also applicable to correctconditions of excess immunological activity (e.g., autoimmune diseases).The present invention therefore includes methods for regulating theimmune system of a subject in need of such regulation which comprisesadministering to said subject an immunoregulatorally-effective amount ofone of the subject compounds, as well as pharmaceutical compositions forpracticing these methods.

The present invention provides a method for treatment of conditionsresulting from relative or absolute T cell or B cell deficiencies in asubject (human or animal) having such a condition which comprisesadministering to the subject a therapeutically-effective amount of apeptide of formula (I). The invention also provides a method fortreatment of conditions resulting from relative or absolute deficienciesof the thymus of a subject which comprises administering to said subjecta therapeutically-effective amount of a peptide of formula (I). As usedherein, the term "therapeutically-effective amount" means an amountwhich is effective to treat conditions resulting from T cell or B celldeficiencies, or deficiencies of the thymus, respectively. The inventionalso provides a method for inducing lymphopoietic stem cells of asubject to develop the characteristics of thymus-derived lymphocyteswhich comprises administering to the subject an effective inducingamount of a peptide of formula (I). The invention also provides a methodfor inducing precursor B cells of a subject to develop thecharacteristics of mature B cells which comprises administering to thesubject an effective inducing amount of a peptide of formula (I). Theinvention further provided pharmaceutical compositions for practicingthose methods.

To prepare the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention, apeptide of formula I or a base or acid addition salt thereof is combinedas the active ingredient in intimate admixture with a pharmaceuticalcarrier according to conventional pharmaceutical compounding techniques.This carrier may take a wide variety of forms depending on the form ofpreparation desired for administration, e.g., sublingual, rectal, nasal,oral, or parenteral. In preparing the compositions in oral dosage form,any of the usual pharmaceutical media may be employed, such as forexample, water, oils, alcohols, flavoring agents, preservatives,coloring agents and the like in the case or oral liquid preparation(e.g., suspensions, elixirs, and solutions) or carriers such asstarches, sugars, diluents, granulating agents, lubricants, binders,disintegrating agents, and the like in the case of oral solidpreparations (e.g., powders, capsules, and tablets). Controlled releaseforms may also be used. Because of their ease in administration, tabletsand capsules represent the most advantageous oral dosage unit form, inwhich case solid pharmaceutical carriers are obviously employed. Ifdesired, tablets may be sugar coated or enteric coated by standardtechniques.

For parenteral products, the carrier will usually comprise sterilewater, although other ingredients to aid solubility or for preservationpurposes (for example) may be included. Injectable suspensions may alsobe prepared, in which case appropriate liquid carriers, suspendingagents, and the like may be employed.

The subject peptides are generally active when administered parenterallyin amounts above about 1 μg/kg of body weight. For treatment of DiGeorgeSyndrome, the peptides may be administered parenterally from about 0.1to about 10 mg/kg body weight. Generally, the same range of dosageamounts may be used in treatment of the other diseases or conditionsmentioned where immunodeficiency is to be treated. Larger amounts (e.g.,about 10-1000 mg/kg body weight) are useful for suppressing excessimmune activity.

The following examples are presented to illustrate the invention withoutintending specifically limiting the invention thereto. In the examplesand throughout the specification, parts are by weight unless otherwiseindicated.

EXAMPLE I Arginyl-Lysyl-Aspartyl-Valyl-Phenylalanine, solvatedBOC-PHE-O-CH₂ -Resin

Chlormethylated Resin (1.04 mmoles Cl/g; 5 g) and anhydrous KF (0.44 g;7.5 mmoles) were added to a solution of BOC-PHE-OH (1.33 g; 5 mmoles) inDMF (40 ml) in a round bottom flask equipped with an overhead stirrer.The reaction mixture was stirred at 65° C. for 24 hours. The resin wasthen filtered and washed extensively with DMF, DMF/H₂ O (1:0, H₂ O;EtOH/H₂ O (1:1), EtOH and CH₂ Cl₂. The substitution of BOC-PHE-OH on theresin was 0.545 mmoles per g of resin based on amino acid analysis.

ARG-LYS-ASP-VAL-PHE

Z-ARG(Z,Z)-LYS(Z)-ASP(BZL)-VAL-PHE-OCH₂ -Resin was assembled manually bysolid phase method. The amino acid derivatives and DCC were used inthree fold excess for the following couplings: Z-ARG(Z,Z)-OH,BOC-LYS(Z)-OH, BOC-ASP(BZL)-OH and BOC-VAL-OH. The peptide-resin (3.1 g)was then cleaved with HF/Anisol (9:1; 30 ml) for 1 h at 0° C. Afterremoval of the HF/anisol, the peptide-resin mixture was filtered andwashed with ether (3×20 ml). The peptide was extracted with 5 percentHOAc/H₂ O (3×50 ml) and lyophilized to give 800 mg of product. The crudepeptide was then purified on a Sephadex-SPC-25 column (80 cm×2.5 cm)equilibrated with 0.2M NH₄ OAc, pH 5. The flow rate was 85 ml/hr andfractions of 10 ml/tube were collected. The desired peptide elutedbetween tubes 145-167. These fractions were pooled and lyophilized togive 750 mg of material. This peptide was chromatographed further on aSephadex G-10 Column (80 cm×2.5 cm) using H₂ O. The flow rate was 18ml/hr and fractions of 10 ml/tube were collected. The title peptideeluted between tubes 21-26.

Thin layer chromatography (Silica Gel F60; 200 microns). R_(f) 0.23(n-BuOH/HOAc/H₂ O=4:1:1). R_(f) 0.11 (NH₄ OH/2-Propanol=37:84).

Amino Acid Analysis: Arg, 1.04; Lys, 1.00; Asp, 1.04; Val, 0.97 and Phe,1.00; peptide content: 88 percent.

HPLC: Whatman Partisil-ODS-1 Column. 10 percent CH₃ OH/0.02M KH₂ PO₄ ;pH 3.5. Flow rate: 2 ml/min. Retention time: 8.10 min.

EXAMPLE II N.sup.α -Acetyl-Arginyl-Prolyl-Aspartyl-Valyl-Phenylaline

The title peptide was synthesized by the solid phase method, startingwith BOC-PHE Merrifield resin (12.03 g, 0.51 meq/g). The resin wassequentially coupled with three equivalents of BOC-VAL, BOC-β-BZL-ASP,and BOC-PRO. The coupling agent was 1:1 DCC:HOBT in 4:1 CH₂ Cl₂ :DMFthroughout the synthesis.

Approximately 1/3 of this tetrapeptide resin was reserved. The remainderwas coupled with N^(g) -TOS-N.sup.α -AOC-ARG, employing the couplingconditions as above.

Approximately 1/2 of the pentapeptide resin was reserved. The remainderwas treated with TFA and neutralized with DIEA. This was then treatedwith Ac₂ O (3 ml) and DMAP (0.3 g) in CH₂ Cl₂ (40 ml) for 60 min. Theresin was washed, dried and cleaved in HF (40 ml): anisole (10 ml) at 0°for 60 min. The residual solids were extracted with 10 percent HOAc andlyophilized to give 1.36 crude peptide.

The crude peptide was purified on Sephadex DEAE 2.6×90 cm: 0.05M NH₄HCO₃, pH 5 (3.5 L), 100 ml/hr flow rate, 13 ml fractions, 206 nmdetector. Fractions 170-205 were collected and lyophilized to give thetitle compound, 830 mg.

TLC: Silica Gel, 250μ.

    ______________________________________    Solvent                 R.sub.f    ______________________________________    5:5:3:1 EtOAc:pyr:H.sub.2 O:HOAc                            0.38    4:1:5 nBuOH:HOAc:H.sub.2 O, upper phase                            0.41    1:1 Trifluoroethanol:NH.sub.4 OH                            0.75    ______________________________________

Amino Acid Analysis: Arg, 1.02; Pro, 0.98; Asp 0.97; Val, 1.02; Phe,1.01; peptide content: 65.3 percent.

EXAMPLE III

N.sup.α -Formyl-Arginyl-Propyl-Aspartyl-Valyl-Phenylalanine

The title peptide was prepared by the solid phase method, starting with(N^(g) -TOS-N.sup.α -AOC)-ARG-PRO-(β-BZL)-ASP-VAL-PHE resin ester fromExample II (ca 2 mmol). After deprotecting with 1:1 TFA/CH₂ Cl₂ andneutralizing with DIEA, the resin was treated with p-nitrophenyl formate(1.0 g) and HOBT (0.9 g) in 5:1 CH₂ Cl₂ :DMF (30 ml) for 16 h. The resinwas washed and retreated with p-nitrophenyl formate (1.0 g) and DMAP(0.2 g) in CH₂ Cl₂ for 1 h.

The formyl peptide resin was cleaved in HF (60 ml) and anisole (10 ml)at 0° for 1 h. The residual solids were treated with 0.2 percent NH₄ OHand the extract lyophilized to give 1.00 g colorless solid.

The peptide was purified on Sephadex DEAE, 2.6×90 cm: 0.1M NH₄ HCO₃ pH7.5, 100 ml/hr flow rate, 13 ml fractions, 206 nm detector. Fractions105-130 were collected and lyophilized to give the title compound, 675mg, as a colorless solid.

TLC: Silica Gel, 250μ.

    ______________________________________    Solvent                R.sub.f    ______________________________________    5:5:3:1 EtOAc:pyr:H.sub.2 O:HOAc                           0.59    4:1:5 nBuOH:HOAc:H.sub.2 O                           0.40    15:3:12:10 nBuOH:HOAc:H.sub.2 O:pyr                           0.59    ______________________________________

Amino Acid Analysis: Arg, 1.01; Pro, 1.00; Asp, 1.00; Val, 0.98; Phe,1.00; peptide content: 78.5 percent.

EXAMPLE IV Arginyl-Prolyl-Aspartyl-Valyl-Phenylalanine

The title peptide was synthesized by the solid phase method, startingwith BOC-PHE Merrifield resin (8.06 g, 0.5/meq/g). The resin wassequentially coupled with three equivalents of BOC-VAL (once withDCC/4-pyrollidinopyridine, recoupled with DCC/HOBT), BOC-β-BZL-ASP(DCC/HOBT), BOC-PRO(DCC/HOBT) and Ng-TOS-Nα-AOC-ARG(DCC/HOBT). Thesolvent was 4:1 CH₂ Cl₂ :DMF throughout.

Approximately 1/2 of this resin was dried and cleaved in HF (40ml):anisole (10 ml):mercaptoethanol (1 ml) at 0° for 60 min. Theresidual solids were extracted with 10 percent HOAc and lyophilized togive 1.34 crude peptide.

The crude peptide was purified on Sephadex CM 25, 2.6×90 cm: gradientelution, 0.05M NH₄ OAc pH 5 (2.1 L) to 0.3M NH₄ OAc pH 5 (2.1 L), 100ml/hr flow rate, 13 ml fractions, 206 nm detector. Fractions 61-100 werecollected and lyophilized. The solid was chromatographed on a G-10Sephadex column (eluted with 1 percent HOAc), collected and lyophilizedto give the title compound, 780 mg.

TLC: Silica Gel G, 250μ.

    ______________________________________    Solvent                 R.sub.f    ______________________________________    5:5:3:1 EtOAc:pyr:H.sub.2 O:HOAc                            0.38    4:1:5 n-BuOH:HOAc:H.sub.2 O, upper phase                            0.25    1:1 Trifluoroethanol:NH.sub.4 OH                            0.71    ______________________________________

Amino Acid Analysis: Arg, 1.00; Pro, 1.00; Asp, 1.00; Val, 1.03; Phe,0.96; peptide content: 61 percent.

The above examples have been provided to illustrate the subjectinvention but not to limit its scope, which scope is set out only in theappended claims.

EXAMPLE IV Arginyl-Lysyl-Aspartyl-Valyl-Histidine Solvated

The title compound was synthesized by the solid phase method startingwith BOC-(im-TOS) Histidine attached to Merrifield resin at asubstitution level of 0.21 mmole/gram. The wash sequence was as follows:

    ______________________________________                     amt. × reps                               time    ______________________________________    1    50 percent TFA/CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2                           75 × 1                                       1 min    2    50 percent TFA/CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2                           75 × 1                                       20 min    3    CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 75 × 3                                       1 min    4    25 percent (CH.sub.3).sub.2 CHOH/                           75 × 3                                       1 min         CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2    5    CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 75 × 3                                       1 min    6    5 percent Diisopropyl-                           75/1        1 min         ethylamine/CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2    7    CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 75 × 3                                       1 min    8    as in 6           75 × 1                                       1 min    9    CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 75 × 3                                       1 min    10   Coupling step    ______________________________________

All couplings except Valine were carried out by the symmetricalanhydride technique. The symmetrical anhydride was synthesized by usingthe derivatized amino acid and DCC (2 to 1 molar ratio) in CH₂ Cl₂ at 0°C. The dicyclohexylurea was removed by filtration and the filtrate addedto the solid phase reaction vessel.

    ______________________________________    Amino acid    Amount   mmoles   source lot no.    ______________________________________    Boc Valine    4.0 g    18.00    Bachem R4544    Boc Valine    4.0 g    18.00    Bachem R4544    Boc Valine    2.0 g     9.00    Bachem R4544    Boc-β-benzyl-Asp                  3.22 g   10.00    Bachem R5291    N.sup.α -Boc-N.sup.ε -CBZ-Lys                  3.81 g   10.00    Bachem R4651    N.sup.α -CBZ-N.sup.γ·Δ diCBZ-                  2.9 g     5.00    Bachem R5931    Arg    ______________________________________

Notes:

1. Third coupling of BOC Valine was done using dicyclohexylcarbodiimide(9.00 mmoles) and 1-hydroxybenzotriazole monohydrate (9.00 mmoles) indimethylformamide (20 ml)/methylene chloride (30 ml).

2. Following the third coupling of Boc Valine the resin peptide wasacetylated with 5 percent acetic anhydride in CH₂ Cl₂ (100 ml) with 100mg of 4-dimethoxylaminopyridine.

3. The resin peptide was divided in half following the acetylation.

4. The resin peptide was split in half following the deprotection andneutralization of the lysine residue.

The yield of resin peptide was 6.7 g. The peptide was deprotected andremoved from the resin by HF (60 ml) cleavage using anisole (3 ml) as ascavenger.

Following removal of the HF and anisole by reduced pressure the residuewas triturated with diethyl ether, collected by filtration, washed withdiethyl ether and extracted with 50 percent TFA/CH₂ Cl₂ (4×25 ml). Theextracts were combined, the solvents removed by reduced pressure and theresidue triturated with diethyl ether. The resultant solid was collectedby filtration, washed with diethyl ether and dried in vacuo at roomtemperature overnight to give 1.84 g of crude peptide.

1.0 g of crude peptide was chromatographed on Sephadex C-25 (2.6×95 cm)by elution with 0.2M NH₄ CH₃ CO₂ at pH 6.0. The flow rate was 90 ml/hrand fractions were collected every 7.5 minutes. After 200 fractions werecollected the buffer was changed to 0.25M NH₄ CH₃ CO₂ at pH 7.0.Fractions 240 to 280 were pooled and lyophilized. The material waslyophilized twice from water to give 0.8 g. This was chromatographed onSepahdex G-10 (2 tandem 2.6×95 cm columns) by elution with water. Theflow rate was 40 ml/hr and fractions were 150 drops (6.5 ml). Fractions78 to 87 were pooled and lyophilized to give 286 mg of the titlecompound.

TLC on silica gel G250 (J. T. Baker 5×20 cm). Spotted 40 μg.

    ______________________________________    Solvent System             R.sub.f    ______________________________________    n-Butanol/Acetic acid/Water (1:1:1)                               0.23    n-Butanol/Acetic acid/Water/Pyridine (4:2:3:1)                               0.29    Chloroform/Methanol/Conc. NH.sub.4 OH (2:2:1)                               0.23    HPLC shows a purity of 99.4 percent    ______________________________________    Amino acid analysis                     calculated                               found    ______________________________________    Arg              1.0       1.03    Lys              1.0       1.00    Asp              1.0       0.95    Val              1.0       1.02    His              1.0       0.99    76.1 percent peptide    Optical rotation [a]D.sup.22 = -32.9° (C = 0.1124 in 1 M    ______________________________________    HOAc)

EXAMPLE VI Arginyl-Lysyl-Aspartyl-Valyl-Tryptophan Solvated

The peptide was synthesized using the DCC coupling technique with thefollowing starting materials:

    ______________________________________                       Amount moles    ______________________________________    Boc-Tryptophan (CHO)-resin ester                          6.0 g   0.003    Boc-Valine           1.96 g   0.009    Boc-Aspartic acid-β-benzyl ester                         2.94 g   0.009    Boc-N.sup.ε -Lysine                         3.42 g   0.009    Boc-N.sup.γ -Tosyl-Arginine                         3.86 g   0.009    Dicyclohexylcarboxiimide                         1.86 g   0.009    Hydroxybenzotriazole 1.22 g   0.009    ______________________________________

The procedure for solid phase was as follows:

The resin was placed in a solid phase stirred reaction vessel andallowed to swell for four hours. The solvent was removed by filtrationand the residue treated with 100 ml of the following solvents andreagents for the specified time and cycles. After each treatment, theliquid was removed by filtration.

    ______________________________________    1.  CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2     3 × 1 minute - wash    2.  50% TFA/CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2                              1 minute - deblock    3.  50% TFA/CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2                              30 minutes - deblock    4.  CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2     3 × 1 minute - wash    5.  5% N-Methylmorpholine/CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2                              1 minute - neutralize    6.  CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2     3 × 1 minute - wash    7.  5% N-Methylmorpholine/CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2                              1 minute - neutralize    8.  CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2     3 × 1 minute - wash    9.  5% Diisopropylethylamine/                              0.5 minute - neutralize        CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2    10. CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2     3 × 1 minute - wash    11. 20% DMF/CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2                              3 × 1 minute - wash    12. Coupling              1.5 to 4.0 hrs    13. DMF                   3 × 1 minute - wash    ______________________________________

The peptide bond was formed by adding the blocked amino acid in 40 mlCH₂ Cl₂ and HOBt in 20 ml DMF and stirring for 1 minute, then adding DCCin 40 ml CH₂ Cl₂ and stirring for between 1.5 and 4.0 hours. The resinpeptide was washed with DMF and CH₂ Cl₂ after all couplings werecomplete and the Boc group was removed in the usual manner. The TFA saltwas washed well with CH₂ Cl₂ and removed from the reaction vessel anddried to a constant weight in vacuo, 8.69 g.

The peptide was cleaved from the resin by stirring in liquid HF (withanisole and tryptophan added) for 1 hour at 0° C. The HF was removed atreduced pressure. The solid was washed with ether and the peptide wasextracted from the resin with 25 percent HOAc/H₂ O. This material waslyophilized to give 3.45 g. crude product with the formyl group still ontryptophan. The material was deformylated by stirring in 1.0M NH₄ HCO₃pH 9.0 (100 ml) for 24 hours. The crude material was lyophilized andchromatographed on a Sephadex SP-C-25 column (2.6×90 cm). Elusion with0.2M NH₄ OAc pH 6.00 gave after combining the appropriate fractions andlyophilizing, 2.09 g. product (93% pure). This material was prep.-HPLCon a M-20 column (Whatman ODS-3) and eluted with 0.01M NH₄ OAc, 12% CH₃CN pH 5.00 to give after combining the appropriate fractions, 0.75 gpure product.

EXAMPLE VIIAcetyl-Arginyl-α-Aminoisobutyryl-Aspartyl-Valyl-Phenylalaminamide,solvated

A. TFA Asp(OBzl)-Val-Phe-NH-MBHA--resin

p-methylbenzhydrylamine-resin (70 g; 0.3 mmoles/g resin) was swelled inCH₂ Cl₂ for 1 h. Boc-Phe, Boc-Val and Boc-Asp(OBzl)-OH were incorporatedto the resin via DCC-mediated coupling. After removal of the N-terminalBoc-group, the peptide-resin was dried and used for synthesis of otherpeptides.

B. Ac-Arg-Aib-Asp-Val-Phe-NH₂

TFA Asp(OBzl)-Val-Phe-NH-MBHA--resin (6 g) was coupled with Boc-Aib andAoc-Arg(Tos)--OH using DCC/HOBt coupling, consecutively. After removalof the Aoc-group of Arg, the peptide-resin was acetylated with Ac₂O/pyridine (1:1). The peptide-resin (5 g) was then cleaved withHF/Anisol (9:1; 50 ml) at 0° C. for 1 hr. The peptide was extracted with5 percent HOAc/H₂ O (3×50 ml) and lyophilized to give 570 mg of solidmaterial. The crude peptide was chromatographed on a SephadexDEAE-Column (80 cm×2.5 cm) equilibrated with unbuffered 0.05M(NH₄)HCO₃.The flow rate was 85 ml/hr and fractions of 10 ml were collected. Thepeptide eluted between tubes 35-48 and this fraction was thenlyophilized to give 450 mg of product.

Thin layer chromatography (Silica Gel F₆₀ ; 200 microns). R_(fI) 0.45(NH₄ OH/Isopropanol=37:84). R_(fII) 0.25 (n-BuOH/HOAc/H₂ O=3:1:1).

Amino Acid Analysis: Arg, 1.01; Aib, 1.03; Asp, 1.03; Val, 0.99; Phe,1.00. Peptide content: 88.3 percent.

EXAMPLE VIII Acetyl-Arginyl-Prolyl-Aspartyl-Valyl-Phenylalanineamide,solvated

Ac-Arg(Tos)-Pro-Asp(OBzl)-Val-Phe-NH-MBHA--resin was synthesized by SPPSstarting with 10 g of p-methylbenzhydrylamine-resin (subst. 0.3 mmolesNH₂ /g resin). The amino acid derivatives and DCC were used in 3 foldexcess for the following couplings: Aoc-Arg(TOS)-OH, Boc-Pro,Boc-Asp(OBzl)-OH, Boc-Val and Boc-Phe. The peptide-resin (4 g) was thencleaved with HF/Anisol (9:1, 40 ml) for 1 h at 0° C. After removal ofthe HF/anisol, the mixture was filtered and washed with ether (3×30 ml).The peptide was extracted with 5 percent HOAc/H₂ O (3×50 ml) andlyophilized to give 315 mg of product. The crude peptide was thenpurified on a Sephadex DEAE Column (2.5 cm×80 cm) equilibrated with0.5M(NH₄ HCO₃) (unbuffered). The flow rate was 85 ml/h and fractions of12 ml/tube were collected. The desired peptide eluted between tubes30-40. This fraction was lyophilized to give 300 mg of material.

Thin layer chromatography (Silica Gel F₆₀ ; 200 microns). R_(fI) 0.55(NH₄ OH/Isopropanol=37.84). R_(fII) 0.3 (n-BuOH/HOAc/H₂ O=3:1:1).

Amino Acid Analysis: Arg, 1.00; Pro, 0.99; Asp, 0.99; Val, 1.00; Phe,1.00. Peptide content: 57.5 percent.

EXAMPLE IX Arginyl-Lysyl-Glutamyl-Valyl-Histidine Solvated

The compound was synthesized by the solid phase method starting with 5.0g of Boc-(im-Tos) Histidine attached to Merrifield resin at asubstitution level of 0.21 mmole/gram. The wash sequence was as follows:

    ______________________________________                     amt. × reps                               time    ______________________________________    1    50 percent TFA/CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2                           75 × 1                                       1 min    2    50 percent TFA/CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2                           75 × 1                                       20 min    3    CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 75 × 3                                       1 min    4    25 percent (CH.sub.3).sub.2 CHOH/                           75 × 3                                       1 min         CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2    5    CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 75 × 3                                       1 min    6    5 percent Diisopropyl-                           75 × 1                                       1 min         ethylamine/CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2    7    CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 75 × 3                                       1 min    8    as in 6           75 × 1                                       1 min    9    CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 75 × 3                                       1 min    10   Coupling step    ______________________________________

All couplings were carried out by using euqal molar amounts of theprotected amino acid, dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and hydroxybenzotraizole.The solvent used was a mixture of dimethylformamide (12 ml) andmethylene chloride (38 ml).

    ______________________________________                   A-    Amino Acid     mount   mmoles   source lot no.    ______________________________________    Boc Valine     0.65 g  3.00     Peninsula                                           001678    Boc-benzyl-Glu 1.01 g  3.00     Bachem R4835    N.sup.α -Boc-N.sup.γ -CBZ-Lys                   1.14 g  3.00     Bachem R4651    N.sup.α -CBZ-N.sup.γ·Δ diCBZ-Arg                   1.14 g  3.00     Bachem R5931    ______________________________________

Notes:

Following the final coupling the resin-peptide was washed withdimethylformamide (2×50 ml), isopropanol (2×50 ml) and dried in vacuo at50° C. for 20 hrs.

The yield of resin peptide was 6.9 g. 6.7 g of resin peptide wasdeprotected and removed from the resin by HF (50 ml) cleavage usinganisole (1 ml) as a scavenger.

Following removal of the HF and anisole by reduced pressure the residuewas triturated with diethyl ether, collected by filtration, washed withdiethyl ether and extracted with 5 percent acetic acid/water (4×25 ml)and then water (4×25 ml). The extracts were combined and lyophilized togive 1.1 g of crude peptide.

1.0 g of crude peptide was chromatographed on Sephadex C-25 (2.6×95 cm)by elution with 0.25M NH₄ HCO₃ at pH 7.0. The flow rate was 100 ml/hrand fractions were collected every 200 drops. Fractions 161 to 210 werepooled and lyophilized. The material was lyophilized thrice from waterto give 568 mg of the title compound.

Analytical Data: TLC on silica gel G250 (J. T. Baker 5×20 cm).

    ______________________________________    Solvent system             R.sub.f    ______________________________________    n-Butanol/Acetic acid/Water (1:1:1)                               0.29    n-Butanol/Acetic acid/Water/Pyridine (4:2:3:1)                               0.32    Chloroform/Methanol/Conc. NH.sub.4 OH (2:2:1)                               0.30    ______________________________________    Amino acid analysis                     calculated                               found    ______________________________________    Arg              1.0       1.05    Lys              1.0       1.01    Glu              1.0       1.02    Val              1.0       0.99    His              1.0       0.93    74.7 percent peptide    Optical rotation [a]D.sup.22 = -24.3° (C = 0.1154 in .1 M    ______________________________________    HOAc)

EXAMPLE X Arginyl-Lysyl-Aspartyl-Valyl-Proline

The title compound was prepared by the solid phase method, starting withBoc-Pro benzyl ester resin (5.08 g, 0.64 meq/g). The following standardroutines were used:

    ______________________________________    Deprotection:                50 ml 50% TFA/CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 for 5 min, then                50 ml 50% TFA/CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 for 20 min;    Washing:    50 ml CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 twice for 1 min each,                followed by 50 ml iPrOH for 1 min,                then 50 ml CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 twice for 1 min                each;    Neutralization:                50 Ml 5% DIEA/CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 twice for                2.5 min each;    Coupling, Method 1:                15.0 mmol of the protected amino acid                and HOBT (2.3 g) were dissolved in                10 ml DMF and then diluted with 30 ml                CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2. DCC (3.09 g) was dissolved                in 10 ml CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2, added to the mixture                of reactants and resin and agitated                for 2-2.5 h.    Coupling, Method 2:                15.0 mmol of the protected amino acid                hydroxy-succinimide ester was                dissolved in 50 ml CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2. NMM                (3.3 ml) was added and the mixture                agitated with the resin for 18 h.    ______________________________________

In sequence, the resin was coupled once each with Boc-Val (Method 1) andBoc-Bzl.sup.β -Asp-OSu (Method 2). Half the resin (3942-137B') waswithdrawn and the remainder coupled once each with Bocα-Cbzε-Lys and(Cbz)₃ Arg (both by Method 1). The resin was washed, air-dried andcleaved in HF/anisole (30 ml/8 ml) for 60 min at 0° C.

The resin residue was quenched in Et₂ O and filtered. The solids wereextracted with 10% HOAc (100 ml) for 1 h, filtered, and the extractlyophilized to give the hydrofluoride salt as a colored gum, 1.09 g.

The crude peptide was purified on CM Sephadex (2.6×87 cm column, 0.15MNH₄ OAc, unbuffered; 100 ml/h flow rate, 12 ml/fraction, 225 nmdetector). Fractions 203-235 were pooled and lyophilized to give 880 mgof the title compound.

II. Analysis:

    ______________________________________    Amino Acid         Ratio    ______________________________________    Arg                1.01    Pro                0.99    Asp                1.00    Val                0.96    Tyr                1.03    56.7% peptide content    Thin Layer Chromatography                       250 micron, Silica Gel G    ______________________________________    Elutent    R.sub.f    ______________________________________    1:1:1:1     -n-BuOH:HOAc:H.sub.2 O:EtOAc                                  0.19    15:3:12:10 n-BuOH:HOAc:H.sub.2 O:Pyridine                                  0.34    5:1:3:5    EtOAc:HOAc:H.sub.2 O:Pyridine                                  0.27    ______________________________________

EXAMPLE XI Arginyl-Lysyl-Glutamyl-Valyl-Tryptophan Solvated

The peptide was synthesized using the DCC coupling technique with thefollowing starting materials:

    ______________________________________                 Source   Amount    Moles    ______________________________________    Boc-Tryptophan --          6.0 g    0.003    (CHO)-resin ester    Boc Valine     Bachem     1.96 g    0.009    Boc Glutamic   Bachem     3.04 g    0.009    acid-8-benzyl ester    Boc-N.sup.ε -Z-Lysine                   Bachem     3.42 g    0.009    Boc-N.sup.γ -Tosyl-Arginine                   Bachem     3.86 g    0.009    Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide                   Chemalog   1.86 g    0.009    Hydroxybenzotriazole                   Aldrich    1.22 g    0.009    ______________________________________

The procedure for solid phase was as follows:

The resin was placed in a solid phase stirred reaction vessel andallowed to swell for four hours. The solvent was removed by filtrationand the residue treated with 100 ml. of the following solvents andreagents for the specified time and cycles. After each treatment, theliquid was removed by filtration.

    ______________________________________    1.    CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 3 × 1 minute - wash    2.    50 percent TFA/CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2                            1 minute - deblock    3.    50 percent TFA/CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2                            30 minutes - deblock    4.    CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 3 × 1 minute - wash    5.    5 percent N-Methyl-                            1 minute - neutralize          morpholine/CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2    6.    CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 3 × 1 minute - wash    7.    5 percent N-Methyl-                            1 minute - neutralize          morpholine/CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2    8.    CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 3 × 1 minute - wash    9.    5 percent Diisopropyl-                            0.5 minute - neutralize          ethylamine/CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2    10.   CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2 3 × 1 minute - wash    11.   20 percent DMF/CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2                            3 × 1 minute - wash    12.   Coupling          1.5 to 4.0 hrs.    13.   DMF               3 × 1 minute - wash    ______________________________________

The peptide bond was formed by adding the blocked amino acid in 40 mlCH₂ Cl₂ and HOBt in 20 ml DMF and stirring for 1 minute, then adding DCCin 40 ml CH₂ Cl₂ and stirring for between 1.5 and 4.0 hours. The resinpeptide was washed with DMF and CH₂ Cl₂ after all couplings werecomplete and the Boc group was removed in the usual manner. The TFA saltwas washed well with CH₂ Cl₂ and removed from the reaction vessel anddried to a constant weight in vacuo, 8.75 g.

The peptide was cleaved from the resin by stirring in liquid HF (withanisole and tryptophan added) for 1 hour at 0° C. The HF was removed atreduced pressure. The solid was washed with ether and the peptide wasextracted from the resin with 25 percent HOAc/H₂ O. This material waslyophilized to give 3.60 g crude product with the formyl group still ontryptophan. The material was deformylated by stirring in 1.0M NH₄ HCO₃pH 9.0 (100 ml) for 24 hours. The crude material was lyophilized andchromatographed on a Sephadex SP-C-25 column (2.6×90 cm). Elusion with0.1M NH₄ OAc pH 5.38 gave after combining the appropriate fractions andlyophilizing, 2.10 g product (˜96 percent pure).

The material was purified on a Whatman ODS-3 NPLC column and eluted with0.01M NH₄ OAc, 12 percent CH₃ CN pH 5.00 to give after combining theappropriate fractions, 0.90 g pure product.

TLC: Rf (solvent system). Rf₁ 0.15 (BuOH:HOAc:H₂ O 3:1:1). Rf₂ 0.28(BuOH:HOAc:H₂ O:EtOAc 1:1:1:1). Rf₃ 0.09 (CHCl₃ :MeOH:NH₄ OH 12:9:4).

Amino Acid Analysis: Arg (0.99) Lys (0.98) Glu (0.97); Val (1.05) Trp(0.96).

Percent composition=88.4 percent peptide.

EXAMPLE XII Arginyl-Lysyl-Glutamyl-Valyl-Tryptophan amide Solvated

The compound was synthesized by the solid phase method starting with theresin-peptide Val-Trp-NH-benzyhydryl-amine resin.

    ______________________________________                   A-    Amino acid     mount   mmoles   source lot no.    ______________________________________    Boc-γ-benzyl-Glu                   2.23 g  16.50    Bachem R5785    N.sup.α -Boc-N.sup.ε -CBZ-Lys                   6.29 g  16.50    Bachem R5268    N.sup.α -CBZ-N.sup.γ·Δ -di-CBZ-Arg                   9.53 g  16.50    Bachem R5931    ______________________________________

1. Following the coupling of N.sup.α -Boc-N.sup.ε -CBZ-Lys the resinpeptide was acetylated with 5 percent acetic anhydride in CH₂ Cl₂ (100ml) with 100 mg of 4-dimethylaminopyridine.

The yield of resin peptide was 15.3 g. 9.0 g of the resin peptide wasdeprotected and removed from the resin by HF (80 ml) cleavage usedanisole (9 ml) as a scavenger. The solvents were removed by reducedpressure and the residue triturated with diethyl ether. The solids werecollected by filtration and extracted with 5 percent acetic acid inwater (4×50 ml). The extracts were combined and lyophilized to give 1.4g of crude product.

The crude material was dissolved in 250 ml of 1.0M NH₄ HCO₃ and the pHadjusted to 9.5. This solution was allowed to stand for 24 hrs at roomtemperature and then lyophilized to give 1.2 g of crude product.

The crude peptide was chromatographed on Sephadex C-25 (2.6×90 cm) byelution with 0.3M NH₄ OAc pH 6.0 with a flow rate of 150 ml/hr andfractions of 20 ml. Tubes 90 to 110 were shown to contain pure productby HPLC and were pooled and lyophilized to give 450 mg of the titlecompound.

Analytical Data: TLC on silica gel GF 250 microns.

    ______________________________________    Solvent system               R.sub.f    ______________________________________    n-Butanol/Acetic acid/Water (1:1:1)                                 0.13    n-Butanol/Acetic acid/Water/Ethyl Acetate (1:1:1:1)                                 0.10    HPLC shows a purity of 99.1 percent    ______________________________________    Amino acid analysis                     calculated                               found    ______________________________________    Arg              1.0       1.02    Lys              1.0       0.96    Glu              1.0       0.99    Val              1.0       1.04    Trp              1.0       0.94    ______________________________________

8.21 percent peptide.

Optical rotation [α]_(D) =-20.7° (C=0.997 in 0.1M HOAc).

EXAMPLE XIII Arginyl-Lysyl-Aspartyl-Valyl-Tryptophan amide Solvated

The compound was synthesized by the solid phase method starting withbenzhydrylamine resin at a substitution level of 0.68 meq/gram. The washsequence was as follows:

    ______________________________________                       amt. × reps                                time    ______________________________________    1   CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2    100 × 3                                        2 min    2   50 percent TFA/CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2                             100 × 1                                        2 min    3   50 percent TFA/CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2                             100 × 1                                        20 min    4   CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2    100 × 3                                        2 min    5   33 percent (CH.sub.3).sub.2 CHOH/CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2                             100 × 3                                        2 min    6   CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2    100 × 3                                        2 min    7   6.5 percent Diisopropyl-                             100 × 1                                        4 min        ethylamine/CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2    8   CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2    100 × 3                                        2 min    9   as in 7              100 × 1                                        4 min    10  CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2    100 × 3                                        2 min    11  Coupling step    12  Dimethylformamide    100 × 1                                        2 min    13  CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2    100 × 3                                        2 min    ______________________________________

All couplings were done with equal molar amounts of the protected aminoacid, dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and hydroxybenzotriazole. The couplingsused dimethylformamide (20 ml) and methylene chloride (60 ml) assolvents.

    ______________________________________                   A-    Amino Acid     mount   mmoles   source lot no.    ______________________________________    Boc-Trp(CHO)   10.97 g 33.00    Peninsula                                           000613    Boc-Valine     7.17 g  33.00    Bachem R4544    Boc-β-benzyl-Asp                   5.32 g  16.50    Bachem R5291    Nα-Boc-N.sup.ε -CBZ-Lys                   6.20 g  16.50    Bachem R5268    Nα-CBZ-N.sup.γ·Δ                   9.53 g  16.50    Bachem R5931    diCBZ-Arg    ______________________________________

1. The resin peptide was split in half following the deprotection andneutralization of the Valine residue.

2. Following the coupling of N.sup.α -CBZ-N.sup.γ,Δ -diCBZ-Arg the resinpeptide was acetylated with 5 percent acetic anhydride in CH₂ Cl₂ (100ml) with 100 mg of 4-dimethylaminopyridine.

The yield of resin peptide was 15.7 g. 7.0 g of the resin peptide wasdeprotected and removed from the resin by HF (60 ml) cleavage usinganisole (5 ml) as a scavenger. The solvents were removed by reducedpressure and the residue triturated with diethyl ether. The solids werecollected by filtration and extracted with 5 percent acetic acid inwater (5×20 ml). The extracts were combined and lyophilized to give 1.2g of crude product.

The crude material was dissolved in 250 ml of 1.0M NH₄ HCO₃ and the pHadjusted to 9.5. This solution was allowed to stand for 24 hrs at roomtemperature and then lyophilized to give 1.2 g of crude product.

The crude peptide was chromatographed on Sephadex C-25 (2.6×90 cm) byelution with 0.3M NH₄ OAc pH 6.0 with a flow rate of 150 ml/hr andfractions of 20 ml. Tubes 197 and 221 were shown to contain pure productby HPLC and were pooled and lyophilized to give 450 mg of the titlecompound.

Analytical Data: TLC on silica gel GF 250 microns.

    ______________________________________    Solvent system               R.sub.f    ______________________________________    n-Butanol/Acetic acid/Water (1:1:1)                                 0.13    n-Butanol/Acetic acid/Water/Ethyl Acetate (1:1:1:1)                                 0.10    ______________________________________    Amino acid analysis                     calculated                               found    ______________________________________    Arg              1.0       1.00    Lys              1.0       0.97    Asp              1.0       0.98    Val              1.0       1.06    Trp              1.0       0.96    75.1 percent peptide    Optical rotation [a]D = -35.6° (C = 1.002 in M HOAC)    ______________________________________

EXAMPLE XIV N.sup.α-Acetyl-Arginyl-3,4-dehydro-Prolyl-Aspartyl-Valyl-Tyrosineamide

A. BOC-3,4-dehydro-Proline

3,4-dehydro-Pro (200 mg; 1.76 mmoles) was dissolved in dioxane/H₂ O (8ml; 2:1). To this solution, 1N NaOH (1.8 ml) and di-t-Butyldicarbonate(436 mg; 2 mmoles) were added at 0° C. with stirring. The mixture wasthen stirred at room temperature overnight. Dioxane was removed and tothe remaining water phase, ethyl acetate (20 ml) was added. The mixturewas cooled in an ice bath, acidified to pH 2.0 with 0.5N HCl andtransferred into separation funnel. The organic layer was separated andthe aqueous layer was extracted twice with EtOAc (2×20 ml). The combinedorganic phase was dried over Na₂ SO₄ and filtered. The solvent wasremoved and the remaining residue was dried and used without furtherpurification.

¹ HNMR of the sample (CDCl₃ ; Ar No. 5030-83) indicated the presence ofBOC-group at 1.45 ppm.

B. N.sup.α-Acetyl-Arginyl-3,4-dehydro-Prolyl-Aspartyl-Valyl-Tyrosineamide

The peptide was synthesized on a (p-methyl)benzhydrylamine-resin (2 gresin; substitution of 0.25 mmoles of NH₂ of g resin) by solid-phasemethod. The incorporation of BOC-Tyr(Bzl)-OH, Boc-Val,BOC-3,4-dehydro-Pro and Aoc-Agr(Tos)-OH was carried out viaDCC-coupling. The coupling was monitored by qualitative ninhydrin test.The acetylation of Arginine was carried out with 50 percent aceticanhydride/pyridine (15 ml) and DMAP (15 mg). The peptidyl resin was thenwashed thoroughly with DMF and CH₂ Cl₂ and dried. The dried peptidylresin (2 g) was cleaved with HF/anisole (20 ml; 9:1) at 0° C. for 1 h.The peptide-resin mixture was washed with ether (3×20 ml) and thepeptide was extracted with 5 percent HOAc/H₂ O (200 ml). Afterlyophilization, the peptide was applied into a Sephadex SPC-25 column(50 cm×0.9 cm) and equilibrated with 0.02M NH₄ OAc; pH 4.6. The flowrate was 80 ml/hr and fractions of 12 ml were collected. The product waseluted between tubes 22-39, which were pooled and lyophilized.

The lyophilized material was purified again on Sephadex SPC-25 column(60 cm×2.5 cm) equilibrated with 0.02M NH₄ OAc; pH 4.5-6.8 under thesame condition as described above. The peptide was eluted between tubes55-75, which were pooled and lyophilized to give 80 mg of product.

Rf 0.45 (n-BuOH/HOAc/H₂ O/Pyr=15:3:12:10; Silica Gel F60). Rf 0.27(n-BuOH/HOAc/H₂ O-3:1:1; Silica Gel F60).

Amino Acid Analysis: Asp, 1.04; Val, 1.00; Tyr, 0.85; Arg, 0.96;3,4-dehydro-Pro, 1.08; Peptide content: 72 percent; hygroscopicmaterial.

HPLC: Whatman Partisil-ODS column. 10 percent CH₃ CN/0.02M NH₄ OAc; pH4.6. Flow rate: 2 ml/min. The peptide was 99.7 percent pure and has aretention time of 14.3 min.

EXAMPLE XV Cyclic-GMP Assay

This assay measures the ability of the test peptide to bind to the cellmembrane receptor of the intact CEM cell and selectively stimulateproduction of cyclic-GMP, as does thymopoietin itself.

The CEM cell line was obtained from the American Type Culture Collectionand was cultured in RPMI-1640 medium supplemented with 10%heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum, 10% heat-inactivated horse serum, 2mM L-glutamine, and 50 g/ml gentamycin at 37° C. in a humid atmospherecontaining 5 percent CO₂, to a final density of 3-4×10⁶ cells/ml. Atthis concentration, the cells were in the early stationary phase of thegrowth curve and were judged greater than 90% viable by trypan blueexclusion. The cells were grown for four days and harvested. Afterharvesting, the cells were washed three times in PBS and wereresuspended in RPMI-1640 medium at a concentration of 3.12×10⁷ cells/ml.After the cells had been allowed to equilibrate at 37° C. for 30 min,various concentrations of the test peptides were added in a volume of 25μl of medium to 1 ml of cells, the initial concentration of testcompound added being selected to yield the desired final concentrationof test peptide in the medium. The test peptide was mixed instantly withthe cell suspension. The incubation was allowed to proceed in a shakingwater bath at 37° C. for 4-5 min and was then terminated by addition ofice-cold trichloroacetic acid (10%; 1 ml).

The cells in TCA were then homogenized and sonicated to release cyclicnucleotide. The resulting suspension was centrifuged at 3000 g for 20min at 4° C. and the resulting precipitate was dissolved in 0.1N NaOHand sonicated for a further 30 minutes, after which the protein contentwas determined by the method of Cadman, et al., Anal. Biochem., 96,21-23 (1979). The TCA was removed from the supernatant fraction byextracting four times with 5 ml of water-saturated diethyl ether. Afterthe final extraction, the remaining traces of ether were removed fromthe supernatant fraction by heating it for 10 min in a 50° C. waterbath. After lyophilization of the extracted supernatant fraction, it wasreconstituted in 50 mM acetate buffer, ph 6.2, for radioimmunoassay ofcyclic nucleotide using the assay kit NEX-133, New England Nuclear,Boston, Mass. 02113.

A conventional competition radioimmunoassay against radio labelledcyclic GMP was conducted to determine the amount of cyclic GMP inducedby each concentration of test peptide. Results are shown in FIG. 1 andin the following table, in which representative subject peptides havebeen assayed in comparison with thymopentin (designated "TP-5") and a"nonsense" peptide H-ASP-ARG-TYR-LYS-VAL-OH. These results demonstratethe superior potency of the subject peptides compared to thymopentin andalso indicate the specificity of the assay for peptides havingthymopentin-like activity.

                                      TABLE 1    __________________________________________________________________________    Concentration of c-GMP Produced (picomoles/ml)                            Concentration of Peptide                            (μg/ml)                            10.sup.0                               10.sup.1                                  10.sup.2                                     10.sup.3                                        10.sup.4                                           10.sup.5    __________________________________________________________________________    (S--ASP--VAL--TYR--OH (TP-5)                            0  4.5                                  9  12 14 --    α-acetyl-ARG--PRO--ASP--VAL--PHE--OH                            7  15 -- -- -- --    o-formyl-ARG--PRO--ASP--VAL--PHE--OH                            0  14 -- -- -- --    H--ARG--PRO--ASP--VAL--PHE--OH                            0  12 -- -- -- --    H--ARG--LYS--ASP--VAL--HIS--OH                            0  9  -- -- -- --    H--ARG--LYS--ASP--VAL--PHE--OH                            6  9  -- -- -- --    H--ASP--ARG--TYR--LYS--VAL--OH                            -- -- --  0  0 0    __________________________________________________________________________

Other representative compounds demonstrating superior results on thisassay were: H-ARG-LYS-ASP-VAL-TRP-OH; N-α-acetyl-ARG-PRO-ASP-VAL-PHE-NH₂; N-α-acetyl-ARG-AIB-ASP-VAL-PHE-NH₂ ; H-ARG-LYS-ASP-VAL-TRP-NH₂ ; andN-α-acetyl-ARG-3,4-dehydro-PRO-ASP-VAL-TYR-NH₂.

EXAMPLE XVI Receptor Assay

This assay measures the ability of the test peptide to compete withlabelled thymopoeitin to bind to the isolated thymopoietin cell surfacereceptor protein from CEM cells.

Materials--CEM cell lines were obtained from the American Type CultureCollection. 3-Nitro-2-pyridine sulfonyl chloride and 2-pyridinethiol1-oxide were provided by Dr. Rei Matseuda, Sanyo Laboratories, Tokyo.RPM1-1640, fetal bovine serum and L-glutamine were obtained from Gibco,gentamycin from Schering, and lectin-coupled agarose beads from VectorLaboratories. Sephadex was purchased from Pharmacia Fine Chemicals. andhuman IgG from Miles Laboratories. All other chemicals were purchasedfrom common commercial sources and were of reagent grade. Rabbitanti-thymopoeitin antibody and ubiquitin were produced following knowntechniques.

The abbreviations used are: PBS, phosphate-buffered saline; TCA,trichloroacetic acid, SDS, sodium dodecylsulfate; Con A, concanavilin A;TP, thymopoietin; PEG, polyethylene glycol; BSA, bovine serum albumin;I.P., intraperitoneal; PMSF, phenyl methyl sulfonyl fluoride; FTS,facteur thymique serique; CRF, corticotropin-releasing factor; ACTH,adrenocorticotropic hormone; Hepes, N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazineN-2-ethane-sulfonic acid.

Preparation of Membrane Glycoprotein--The CEM human lymphoid cell linewas cultured in RPMI-1640 supplemented with 10 percent heat-inactivatedfetal bovine serum, 2 mM L-glutamine and 50 μg/ml gentamycin at 37° C.in a humid atmosphere containing 5 percent CO₂, to a final density of3-4×10⁶ cells/ml. At this concentration, cells were in the earlystationary phase of the growth curve and were judged greater than 90percent viable by trypan blue exclusion.

Membrane glycoproteins were prepared by a modification of the techniqueof Hedo, et al., Biochem, 20, 3385-3393 (1981). The cells were washedonce with PBS and were suspended in 40 percent sucrose, 50 50 mM Hepes,1 percent EDTA, 0.1 percent O-phenanthroline, and 1 mM PMSF (inmethanol), pH 7.8, and homogenized in a glass homogenizer at roomtemperature. The total suspension was then subjected to sonication by acell disruptor sonicator with a cup horn attachment (Model W-225R) at35° C. for 10 min. The suspension was centrifuged at 600×g for 10 min at4° C. in a Sorval GLC-3 centrifuge, and the supernatant wasrecentrifuged at 20,000×g in a Sorval 5B centrifuge at 4° C. for 3 min.The crude membrane fraction obtained from this pellet was suspended in50 mM Hepes, 10 mM MgSO₄, and 1 mM PMSF, pH 7.8, at a final proteinconcentration of 5 mg/ml. Solubilization of protein was performed bystirring the suspension for 2 h at 25° C. in the presence of 1 percentTriton X-100 (final concentration) and 0.1 percent brij-96(polyoxyethylene 10, oleyl ether) (final concentration). The suspensionwas centrifuged at 200,000×g for 2 h at 4° C., and the supernatant wasstored at -70° C. Soluble protein concentration was measured accordingto the technique of Cadman, et al., using BSA as a standard and bufferas a control.

Wheat germ agglutinin or ricinus communis agglutinin-I was used forpurification of the receptor protein. All lectin beads were stored at 4°C. with their corresponding monosaccharide inhibitors (300 mM).

For each purification 2 ml of lectin-agarose was packed into a 1 cmdiameter column and washed at room temperature with 25 ml of 0.15M NaCl,50 mM Hepes, 0.1 percent Triton X-1 and 0.01 percent SDS, pH 7.8.

The columns were washed with 200 ml of 0.15M NaCl, 50 mM Hepes and 0.1percent Triton X-100, pH 7.8, followed by a final wash of this buffercontaining 10 mM MgSO₄. PMSF (1 mM) was added to all the buffer systems.Solubilized membrane proteins (˜10 mg) were recycled five times throughindividual columns. The column was then washed with 100 ml of 0.15MNaCl, 50 mM Hepes, 10 mM MgSO and 0.1 percent Triton X-100, pH 7.8, at4° C. Monosaccharide inhibitors, at a concentration of 400 mM in 3 mlwashing buffer, were used for individual column elutions; N-acetylglucosamine for wheat germ agglutinin and β-methyl D-galactoside forricinus communis agglutinin-I. The monosaccharides were applied to thecolumn, which was stopped for 30-40 min to permit equilibration and theneluted further. The protein eluate was dialyzed against 500 ml of 50 mMHepes, 10 mM MgSO₄ and 0.1 percent Triton X-100, pH 7.8, at 4° C.

Preparation of Radiolabelled Thymopoietin--Thymopoietin was dissolved in0.2M sodium carbonate-bicarbonate buffer, pH 9.8, to obtain reactiveamino groups. 3-nitro-2-pyridine sulfonyl chloride in dioxane (10:1moles) were added to the thymopoietin solution and stirred for 5 h at20° C. After the addition of water the insoluble material wascentrifuged. The protected peptide was purified using Sephadex G-25chromatography followed by digestion with post-proline cleaving enzymeto remove the NH₂ -terminal blocked proline. Methyl 3,5 di[¹²⁵I]iodohydroxybenzimidate (4000 Ci/mM) was obtained at a concentration of5.5 mCi/ml in methanol and was evaporated to dryness. The iodinatedimidoester (1.4 nM) was reacted with protected thymopoietin (5 μg; 0.9nM) according to the method of Wood, et al., Anal. Biochem., 69, 339-349(1975), with the following modifications. The reaction was carried outin 500 μl of 0.16M borate buffer, pH 9.1, for 24 h at 4° C. The reactionwas stopped by the addition of 500 μl of 2M citrate phosphate buffer, pH5.5, at 4° C. The sample was chromatographed on a Biogel P-10 column insodium pyrophosphate, pH 7.5 (15 drops/fraction), at 4° C. to separatethe free iodine.

The iodinated peptide was dissolved in water and treated with2-pyridinethiol 1-oxide (10:1 moles) for 5 h at room temperature toremove the protecting groups. The deprotected labelled peptide waspurified on a Biogel P-10 column. Three radioactive peaks were obtained,the first two of which were immunoactive with rabbit antihymopoietinantibody. The first peak was then applied to a 1×60 cm column ofDEAE-Sephadex A-25 that had been equilibrated with 50 mM Tris buffer, pH7.0. The iodination mixture was eluted with this buffer using a lineargradient of increasing ionic strength from the equilibrationconcentrations up to 1.0M. The radioactivity of each fraction wasdetermined using an LKB 1280 Ultra gamma spectrometer.

Fractions with peak radioactivity from each purification scheme wereanalyzed for binding with excess antihymopoietin antibody. Fractionsfrom peak II (fractions 35-45) of the DEAE-Sephadex A-25 column showedthe highest specific binding and were used subsequently in theradioreceptor assay.

Iodinated thymopoietin retained biological activity as determined byassessing its effect in a neuromuscular assay (Goldstein, Nature, 247,11-14 (1974)) and its effect on the synthesis of cyclic GMP by CEMcells.

Binding Assay--The assay buffer was prepared by adding 12 g Hepes, 1.2 gMgSO₄ and 1.2 g BSA to 1000 ml of glass distilled water. A pH of 7.65was obtained using 1N NaOH. The stock standard solution was made usingassay buffer and was used for one week. The assay was performed in 12×75mm glass test tubes by the addition of 100 μl of standard solution, 25μl of receptor protein (150-200 μg/ml), 25 μl ¹²⁵ I-TP (80,000 cpm)) 20μl of 1 percent Triton X-100, and the volume was made up to 200 μl withassay buffer. After incubation for 18 h at 4° C., 200 μl of human IgG(1.5 mg/ml) (as carrier) and 200 μl of 35 percent PEG-8000 in PBS, pH7.56, were added, mixed, and incubated for 30 min on ice. The tubes werecentrifuged and the residue was washed with 10 percent PEG in PBS, pH7.3, and counted in an LKB-gamma counter.

The radioactivity in the precipitate in the presence of 1 mg/mlnonradioactive thymopoietin was taken to represent nonspecific binding.TCA was added to the supernatant (final concentration 5 percent) andprecipitable radioactivity was measured. At all times this exceeded 95percent, indicating minimal release of free ¹²⁵ I from the tracer.

Competition Experiments--Following the above binding assay procedure,2.3×10⁻¹⁰ M of ¹²⁵ I-TP was incubated with 4 μg of receptor protein andtest peptide together with the same concentration of the thymopoietin37-45 nonapeptide. (H-VAL-GLU-LEU-TYR-LEU-GLN-SER-LEU-TNR-OH). Theincubation was continued for 12 h, after which free and bound ¹²⁵ I-TPwere determined as above. The nonapeptide is used to block an adjacentreceptor site on the receptor protein. If this adjacent receptor site isnot blocked, some labeled TP can bind to the receptor protein throughthis site even if the thymopentin receptor site is blocked by the testpeptide. Such binding is unrelated to the activity of the test peptideand (if not blocked by the TP 37-45 nonapeptide) would yield inaccurateresults.

The following representative compounds of the invention causeddisplacement at least 50% of that caused by thymopoietinself-displacement at equivalent concentrations:

H-ARG-LYS-ASP-VAL-PHE-OH;

N-α-acetyl-ARG-PRO-ASP-VAL-PHE-OH;

N-α-formyl-ARG-PRO-ASP-VAL-PHE-OH;

N-ARG-PRO-ASP-VAL-PHE-OH;

H-ARG-LYS-ASP-VAL-HIS-OH;

H-ARG-LYS-ASP-VAL-TRP-OH; and

H-ARG-LYS-ASP-VAL-TRP-NH₂

For comparison, other peptides such as insulin, glucagon, growthhormone, somatostatin, β-endorphin, FTS, ACTH, CRF, and ubiquitin causedno detectable displacement.

The above Examples have been presented for illustrative purposes onlyand not to limit the scope of the present invention, which scope is setout in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A peptide having the formula:

    R-V-W-X-Y-Z-R.sup.1

or a pharmaceutically-acceptable acid- or base-addition salt thereof,wherein: R is H, loweralkyl, formyl, or loweralkanoyl; V is ARG orD-ARG; W is .[.LYS, D-LYS,.]. PRO, dehydro-PRO, or AIB; X is ASP, D-ASP,GLU, or D-GLU; Y is VAL, LYS, LEU, ILE, GLU, ALA, GLN, D-VAL, D-LYS,D-LEU, D-ILE, D-GLU, D-ALA, or D-GLN; Z is PHE, HIS, TRP, D-PHE, D-HIS,or D-TRP; .Iadd.and .Iaddend. R¹ is OH or NR² R³ ; and R² and R³ areeach independently selected from H or loweralkyl.[.; provided that whenW is LYS, X is D-ASP, GLU, or D-GLU, and Y is VAL, Z is other thanPHE.]..
 2. The peptide of claim 1 wherein Z is PHE, HIS, D-PHE, orD-HIS.
 3. The peptide of claim 2 wherein W is PRO.
 4. The peptide ofclaim 1 wherein R is hydrogen or loweralkyl, V is ARG, X is ASP, and Zis PHE or HIS.
 5. The peptide of claim 4 wherein W is PRO.
 6. A peptidehaving the formula α-acetyl-ARG-PRO-ASP-VAL-PHE-OH or apharmaceutically-acceptable acid- or base-addition salt thereof.
 7. Apeptide having the formula α-formyl-ARG-PRO-ASP-VAL-PHE-OH or apharmaceutically-acceptable acid- or base-addition salt thereof.
 8. Apeptide having the formula α-(loweralkanoyl)-ARG-PRO-ASP-VAL-PHE-OH or apharmaceutically-acceptable acid- or base-addition salt thereof.
 9. Apeptide having the formula H-ARG-PRO-ASP-VAL-PHE-OH or apharmaceutically-acceptable acid- or base-addition salt thereof.
 10. Apeptide having the formula H-ARG-PRO-ASP-VAL-HIS-OH or apharmaceutically-acceptable acid- or base-addition salt thereof.
 11. Apeptide having the formula H-ARG-LYS-ASP-VAL-HIS-OH or apharmaceutically-acceptable acid- or base-addition salt thereof.
 12. Apeptide having the formula H-ARG-LYS-ASP-VAL-PHE-OH or apharmaceutically-acceptable acid- or base-addition salt thereof.
 13. Apharmaceutical composition comprising an effective T cell inducingamount of a peptide of claim 1 in admixture with a pharmaceuticallyacceptable carrier.
 14. A pharmaceutical composition comprising aneffective B cell inducing amount of a peptide of claim 1 in admixturewith a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.